Cathy Rigby winds up her long career as 'Peter Pan' at Proctors

SCHENECTADY -- The story of "Peter Pan" is one of those remarkable tales that strikes a different chord, depending on the age of whoever is experiencing the classic story.

Kids see it as an adventure story, about a brave boy who can fly and who battles pirates. Adults often view the story as a quest for eternal youth.

Cathy Rigby, who is at Proctors for an eight-performance run of the musical version of "Peter Pan," agrees. "There is something about the show that touches adults as much as it entertains younger audiences," she said.

"For adults, there is a bittersweet longing for remembrances, beliefs and enthusiasm of youth when anything was possible," she said. "But it is not only about them. They look at their kids and realize neither is the youth of their children eternal. They know their kids also have to grow up."

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As a parent of four, she sounds a bit wistful: "Things change and change isn't always something we want."

She points to a line in the show when Wendy says, "If only it could remain this way forever."

Though Rigby understands the adult perspective, she seems to have a special affinity for the kids in the audience. Her concern for the kids who attend the show is, perhaps, best demonstrated off stage. After every show she patiently greets every child who wants to meet her and say hello.

"It's inspirational to me," she said of the individual attention she gives to each child. "I am able to look into their eyes as they experience the thrill of meeting this mythical young boy Peter Pan."

Surprisingly, Rigby who was world famous for her gold medal-winning achievements in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, describes herself as a shy child. It is a memory she still brings to her position as a role model. "I understand at a certain age all kids feel kind of invisible. It's very important for me to ask a personal question about their lives or plans for the future. I try to make every child feel good about themselves."

Sometimes it gets tricky. When she greets a child, she offers them a small bag of "magic dust." She laughs, "They often ask if it will permit them to fly. I've learned to say that if they sprinkle a little on their head just before going to bed, Peter will join them to go flying during the night." As an aid to parents, she added, "But it will only work if you go to bed on time and go right to sleep."

On the topic of bittersweet, the show ends its tour in about a month and Rigby knows this is the last time she'll play "Peter Pan." It has been an important part of her life as she performed the role on Broadway and has done three national tours, "but it's time and I'm ready to let it go," she said.

"This is the last thing I thought I'd be doing with my life when I was young. I could sing a little, but I was too shy to do it in front of someone. What I did know how to do was train. I became as obsessive about learning how to develop my singing and dancing talents as I was about gymnastics."

Today, at age 60, she said, "I think I'm in better shape than at any time in my life. I work out, eat healthy and don't party. It's not only my energy, I have to take care of my voice, as well. We've been on tour for a year and a half and I haven't missed a performance," she said with pride.

But it always goes back to the kids. Just as during the show, the kids save Tinkerbell's life by telling Peter they believe in fairies, she says she is dedicated to making the youngsters believe in her. "I want them to believe there's a young boy on stage, not a grandma."